Episode 7: Aachen Cathedral

1. Episode 7: Aachen Cathedral Music: Theodulf, “All Glory Laud and Honor”

2. Waypoints Timeline • Theme: The Church and the Formation of ‘political’ Europe

3. Aachen Cathedral • Built by Charlemagne in 805 at his capital in Aachen, Germany • Octagonal plan based on earlier Byzantine churches in Italy • Most ornate church in northern Europe for centuries

4. Beginning of Christianity Among Franks • Conversion of Chlodwech (Clovis) 496 in Rheims as a Catholic Christian • Clovis is beginning of Merovingian dynasty in France • Baptized by St. Remigius (437-533; Feast Day 1 October), bishop of Rheims • After Clovis, there are close ties between Frankish king and the papacy • Charlemagne’s grandfather, Charles Martel, defeats the Muslims threatening Europe at Tours • Pepin the Short, Charlemagne’s grandfather, defeats the Lombards in Italy who were threatening the papacy • Charlemagne comes from a long line of Catholic rulers in France

5. Frankish Encouragement of Continuing Missionary Activities • Boniface, aka Winifred, 672-755 • Influenced by Irish monasticism • Goes to Rome in 717 to get approval of Pope Gregory II; gets mission to preach north of Rhine • May have crowned Pepin the Short, Charlemagne’s father • Martyred in northern Holland, 755

6. Charlemagne (747-814) • Born in Aachen in 747 to Pepin the Short and his wife, Bertha the Big Foot • Reclaimed parts of northeastern Spain from Muslims (Song of Roland) • Defeated Saxons and forced their conversion to Catholicism • Defeats Lombards in 774 • United Western Europe; established capital at Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle) • Crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III in Rome Christmas Day 800

7. Charlemagne’s Empire • Included most of France, low countries, western Germany • Governed by a system of civil and ecclesial leaders • Bishops take an increasingly secular as well as ecclesial role; • Usually best educated • Church was a large land owners • Custom develops that the king appoints bishops • Practice of lay investiture

8. Monastic Scholarship in Charlemagne’s Court • Charlemagne established a center of learning that drew monastic scholars from across Europe • Alcuin of York (735-804) • Advises Charlemagne on religious and educational matters • Established cathedral schools and libraries • Attempt to revise and standard liturgy, and Latin in liturgy • Theodulf of Orleans (760-821) • Wrote LibriCarolini • Author of many poems and hymns, including “All Glory, Laud and Honor” • Development of Carolingian script • Capital and lower case letters • Easy to read letters

9. Impact of Charlemagne’s Rule • Enforced Latin, Roman liturgy • Established centers of learning for clergy and monks (although he could not read) • Set up European-wide system of administration • Establish precedent of Western Holy Roman Empire • Cemented special relationship between Pope and France • Charlemagne considered a saint in region around Aachen

10. After Charlemagne • Kingdom divided among his three sons at Treaty of Verdun • Sons are weakened rulers, creating a power vacuum • Lingering problem: who’s in charge politically, Pope or King • Viking invasions begin during Charlemagne’s lifetime, and increase throughout Europe in 9th and 10th C

11. Aachen Cathedral Today • An important cathedral in Germany • An example of best architecture of early Medieval Europe • Houses Charlemagne’s throne and the later Medieval reliquary of Charlemagne

12. Next Waypoint: Assisi, Italy